In addition to some 100 reservists who have been assigned to bolster Magen David Adom medical personnel, the IDF is calling up some 70 reservists to help prepare a publicity campaign for the Home Front Command.
Vets say pets can't contract or spread the disease, but stress that quarantine means quarantine, with no exceptions for dog walking.
World Health Organization has so far refrained from upgrading the COVID-19 outbreak to global pandemic status. China, South Korea, Italy and Iran account for 93% of the nearly 110,000 cases reported by more than 100 countries worldwide.
Latest World Health Organization data shows that to date, there have been 114,431 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide. Some 4,000 people have died from the COVID-19 virus, and 64,099 have recovered from it.
"Come on, it's media spin. Enough;" said one person. Another one said: "It's going to get worse, I should stockpile food."
Saudi Arabia and Qatar announce travel bans, with the Saudis closing schools nationwide and shutting down public activities. Egypt reports first coronavirus death – a 60-year-old German tourist.
"This was a tough decision to make, but it is essential if we want to safeguard the health of the general public; public health considerations trump everything," PM Netanyahu says.
Trials at three Israeli hospitals and European medical centers show promising results in reducing instances of pneumonia. The device has been delivered to China.
"Not all patients will need to be hospitalized – 80%-90% of them will experience very mild symptoms and all they will have to do is observe quarantine until the illness passes," says Prof. Itamar Grotto, director of Public Health Services in the Health Ministry.
Another 14 people were diagnosed on Sunday, bringing the total number of infected Israelis to 39, the Health Ministry announces.
